Published May 19 2014
A fire early Monday morning caused more than $750,000 worth of damage to a new house in Enatai. The house was not occupied yet, and no one was injured.
At approximately 12:40 a.m., on Monday, May 19, multiple callers reported the blaze, on the 3100 block of 110th Avenue Southeast. First units arrived within five minutes and found the rear portion of the home fully in flames, which extended into the second and third floors.
Initial crews began an exterior defensive attack with heavy streams of water to slow the fire's progress. As additional fire engines and ladder trucks arrived on scene, strategy transitioned into an offensive interior attack. As interior crews battled extremely high interior heat and flames, search and rescue was completed, ensuring there were no residents in the home at the time of the fire.
Firefighters cut holes in the roof to provide vertical ventilation, reducing the interior temperature and providing an opportunity to gain access to the third floor. While fighting the fire on the third floor, a Bellevue firefighter fell through the floor, holding onto the fire hose to soften his landing in a bedroom on the second floor. The firefighter was not injured and returned to fire operations.;
Fire companies from Bellevue, Mercer Island, Kirkland and Eastside Fire and Rescue assisted in suppression operations. Bellevue Police assisted with traffic control and scene security.
The fire was brought under control within 70 minutes after the first engine company arrival. Crews confirmed no one was in the home at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.